Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Ideas For Next Giveaway?

Hmm...I've been browsing the Bloggy Giveaways and stumbled on one for a box of See's Candy. I LOVE the stuff...but they don't seem to have it out here in Texas (at least not anywhere near me). Hope I win!

That sparked an idea. The Bloggy Giveaway Carnival thing happens quarterly, so I thought it would be cool next time to offer something for homesick Texans in California, since I'm here and could send something you can't find in California. I'd love ideas! Please post a comment sharing what you think I should send from Texas for the next giveaway (or what you'ld like from California...maybe I can recruit someone in California to help)*, and I'll send one of the commenters a post card with my favorite Texas wildflower on it (the Mexican Evening Primrose...those delicate pink flowers that grow in waves of blooms along the freeways). Just make sure you include a way for me to contact you if you want the postcard (cause if I don't have any way to contact you I'll have to give it to someone else). I know a postcard isn't much...but it is a nice reminder of home! (Plus it was all I happened to have on hand right at the moment). I'll pick who to send the card to on August 4.

And, if you happen to be offering a giveaway on your blog that a homesick Texan or Californian would like, please let me know by posting a link to it in your comment, and I'll put another link to it in this post. And if you want to sponsor something from California or Texas for the next Bloggy Giveaways, you can e-mail me at windhavenglen@hotmail.com about it (especially if you're in California...since it would be nice to offer something from both states. Even something small, like a postcard or package of California Poppy seeds would be cool).

Here's the current giveaways I've found with a California appeal.

For Homesick Californians:
See's Candy (as mentioned earlier.)
Mel, A Dramatic Mommy is offering Jewelery by a San Diego artist, books by a San Diego Author, and reusable grocery bags from Traders Joes (a store you can find all over California but not in Texas).

(Still looking for others with specific Texas appeal)

Monday, July 28, 2008

Bumper Sticker Giveaway!

Hello all! This month I'm giving away three Texifornian bumper stickers here on the blog and another three on the Texifornia Forums.






For those of you who are visiting this blog for the first time and are wondering what a Texifornian is...well, simply put, a Texifornian is anyone who has lived in both Texas and California! And yes, I have a whole website devoted to this rather obscure topic. I hope you'll take the time to look around, especially if you just happen to be a Texifornian yourself (though everyone is welcome)! But you don't have to do that to enter--you just have to leave a comment below telling why you want the bumper sticker. For an extra chance to win you can also enter on the on the Texifornia forums by making a post in the Introductions board. Make sure in both cases to leave an e-mail where I can contact you if you win--or if you prefer you can come back to check the winners list I'll be posting on August 4th (and claim your prize if you won). You can enter until August 1st. Only one blog comment and one intro post on the forums per person, please. Winners must claim their prize by August 11th or they forfeit it.


Want to win other cool stuff? Check out the Bloggy Giveaway Carnival going on at BloggyGiveaways.com. You can find hundreds of blogs posting giveaways just like this one! I especially hope you'll visit the She Became a Butterfly blog. She's giving away a $20 Amazon gift certificate, but also encouraging others to do some really good things for some kids who need some encouragement.

California Bans Trans Fat

In yet another food related story (honestly, this blog isn't really about food), last week the California legislature made it illegal for restaurants and bakeries to use trans fats. I have big time mixed feelings about this. Sure, I'd like us all to eat healthier, and would love to see trans-fat disappear from the menus of my favorite places to eat...but isn't this encroaching a bit on our freedom? I mean, it's our bodies...and no one is breathing our "second hand fat" or being killed by drivers under the influence of trans-fat laden pastries. Still, I know that obesity problems take a tole on our healthcare systems, especially when hospitals are forced to pay for emergency care for the un-insured. But I don't think the answer is to make anything un-healthy illegal.

Comments?